Las Alcaravaneras Beach

The sun comes up straight out of the sea here. Las Alcaravaneras faces east, and by the time the light is on the sand the volleyball nets are in use and someone is kicking a football along the waterline.

This is the city's own beach. Canoes go out on the calm water, there is a basketball court beside the sand, and the people on it are mostly locals. Las Canteras gets the crowds; this side of town gets the regulars.

The view is a working harbour. Cranes, docked ships and a cargo terminal fill part of the horizon, so there is always something moving out there to watch.

• The sea view takes in the port and a cargo terminal, which block part of the horizon.
• The water is calm. The beach is used for sport as much as for swimming: volleyball, football, canoeing and a basketball court beside the sand.
• Toilets stand about 110 m away. There is no drinking-water tap close by, so bring your own.
• It is quieter than Las Canteras and draws mostly locals.

Las Alcaravaneras is in the city itself, on the harbour side, and the bus drops you almost at the sand. Two stops serve it, Alcaravaneras and León y Castillo (Edificio José Antonio), both about 160 m away in a straight line.

By car, there is a paid car park about 220 m away. A second car park nearby is for customers only, so read the signs before you leave the car there.

Best: early morning. The beach faces east, so the sun rises over the sea and the port, and that is when the volleyball and football games get going.

Avoid: evening, if you came for a sunset. The sun goes down behind the city, out of sight of the beach.